UXO TECHNOLOGY STANDARDIZED DEMONSTRATION SITES

Estimates indicate that 14 million acres of land potentially contain unexploded ordnance (UXO). There is significant variability among these sites in terms of the conditions that affect sensor performance. Recent UXO sensor demonstrations evaluated system performance at a limited number of sites, with singular vegetative and geologic conditions. ESTCP has funded a program for the evaluation of UXO detection and discrimination technologies using standardized protocols. The application of standardized test methodologies, procedures, and facilities will help ensure that critical parameters such as detection capability, false alarms, discrimination, reacquisition and system efficiency are accurate and repeatable. The standardized test sites will be made up of three areas (the calibration lane, the blind grid, and the open field). The calibration lane will contain standardized targets at six primary orientations and three depths. All information on the targets will be provided. The calibration lane will allow demonstrators to build a site library, document signal strength, and deal with site-specific variables. In the blind grid area, demonstrators are required to report whether or not a target or clutter is present at each grid. If something is detected, they then report type, classification and depth of the item. The blind grid allows the demonstrators to showcase the sensors on their system without platform, coordinate system, or operational concerns. The open field will be a 10-acre area with a myriad of clutter and targets. The demonstrators will be given no information. The demonstrators will approach the open field as if they were performing at an actual Department of Defense (DOD) installation. They will be required to report item location, classify it as clutter or target, and provide type, classification, and depth of target. The open field will document the performance of the entire system in an actual range operation mode. This paper will present the approach taken for the initial clearance and documenting the geophysical properties of the site.